Top ten ag law cases

The Farm Policy weblog links to the Grand Forks Herald's nice summary of the top ten agriculture law cases of 2004. The list includes some cases that U.S. Food Policy was following, and several interesting cases I overlooked. For example:

1. Captive supplies in the cattle industry. Pickett v. Tyson Fresh Meats, 315 F. Supp. 1172 (U.S. District for the Middle District of Alabama, April 23). A jury found that Tyson violated the federal Packers and Stockyards Act through its use of captive supply contracts in purchasing cattle and awarded cattle farmers and ranchers up to $1.28 billion in damages.... overturned.... appeals court decision is expected this year...

7. Seed-saving penalties. Monsanto Co. v. McFarling, 363 F.3d 1336 (Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, April 9). The federal Court of Appeals upheld a finding that a farmer violated his 1998 technology agreement with Monsanto by saving seed, but held that because the remedies provisions in the agreement were "invalid and unenforceable under Missouri law," the $780,000 judgment against the farmer must be vacated....

8. Deceptive herbicide pricing and marketing. Peterson v. BASF Corp., 675 N.W.2d 57 (Minnesota Supreme Court, Feb. 19). The Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously affirmed a jury verdict and entry of a $52 million judgment for a nationwide class of farmers of minor crops who claimed that BASF's herbicide marketing and pricing schemes were deceptive. BASF filed a petition for the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case,....